My husband has just been diagnoised with Scleroderma, can anyone help me?

Does anyone know what kind of doctor to take him to. He is 72

Finger-stretching exercises can improve range of motion in the joints of individuals who suffer from scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis) -- a chronic disease that causes skin thickening and tightening and the formation of scar tissue.

"Our results indicate that rehabilitation by stretching of the fingers may be effective for improving and maintaining hand function," the study team concludes in the Journal of Rheumatology.

Dr. Minoru Hasegawa, of Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Ishikawa, Japan, and colleagues assessed the efficacy of self-administered stretching of each finger in 32 patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and 13 with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

The patients received instruction on finger stretching exercises and were asked to perform them daily. Each finger was maintained in a stretched position using the opposite hand for 10 seconds; this was repeated 3 to 10 times.

After 1 month of finger stretching, the total passive range of motion was significantly improved and was maintained or further improved at 1 year.

Patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis had less range of motion than those with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. However, there was a significant increase in range of motion regardless of disease duration or severity of skin sclerosis.

Although the overall mean scores on the Health Assessment Questionnaire were not significantly changed after 1 year of the stretching program, "when individual component scores were investigated, two components of hand function (eating and gripping) were significantly improved."

SOURCE: Journal of Rheumatology August 2006.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scleroderma

A rheumatologist, who treats arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. These include scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus or SLE).
An endocrinologist, who treats gland and hormone problems. These include diabetes and thyroid disease.
A neurologist, who treats nerve problems. These include multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis.
A haematologist, who treats diseases that affect the blood. These include pernicious anemia and autoimmune haemolytic anemia.
A gastroenterologist, who treats problems with the digestive system. These include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
A dermatologist, who treats problems of the skin, hair, and nails. These include psoriasis, pemphigus/pemphigoid, and alopecia areata.
A nephrologist, who treats kidney problems. These include glomerulonephritis, inflamed kidneys associated with lupus.

He will need to be under the care of a skin doctor, also called a dermatologist. I am sorry for his diagnosis. Scleroderma can be a very painful and debilitating disease. You may also want to join an online or in-person Scleroderma support group. My warmest thoughts go out to you and your family.

Go to Webmd.com

I've been working with a Family Doctor for the past eight years and have come across a few cases of scleroderma. Generally, different doctors become involved as the disease progresses or perhaps other diseases develop, hopefully your husband's case is not very aggressive and is uncomplicated. Internal Medicine specialists is a good beginning. There is also Rheumatology and Endocrinology. The Internal Medicine doctor generally checks all blood work and gives medications to the patient to try, hopefully to alleviate any symptoms. A Rheumatologist can help with the soft tissue pains, rule out arthritis, get x-rays and set the patpatientnt up with any rehabilitative programs, ie. Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and home assessments. Endocrinologists are generally involved if there are also other diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes and hypertension. Exercise is definitely a help. It doesn't have to be a marathon, but a vigorous walk, swim, yoga are all very good for the body as it starts to slow but more importantly GREAT for the mind and spirit as the difficulties become harder to cope with. Be sure to also get his eyes checked, especially after medication add-ons or changes as the disease as well as different medications can alter visual acuity. An ophthalmologist or local optometrist can detect this. I wish you both luck and I hope everything goes well for you.

Please speak to the physician who diagnosed him. So many body systems can be affected by scleroderma that it's difficult to say which one he should start with. Your question needs to be addressed by his doctor. Please make that call for a referral to a specialist. This is my professional advice to you. Take it.